More Money To Help Disabled Workers Into Employment

Secretary of State for Work and Pensions Peter Hain announced this week that more money will be available to help disabled workers move into sustained employment. Mr Hain announced changes to WORKSTEP, a programme that helps disabled people find and retain paid employment. The changes will mean the sustained progression payment will be increased fourfold from £500 to £2000.

During a visit to Newco, which delivers the WORKSTEP programme for the London Borough of Newham Council, Peter Hain said:"We have made major progress in helping disabled people into work and these changes will give even more disabled people the opportunity they deserve to move into sustained and fulfilling employment. By increasing the funding in this way we are encouraging providers to help more individuals who are able to progress to work without the support that WORKSTEP provides. This in turn will free up valuable resources to help more disabled people."

The government has started a series of public consultation events on its recent report, ‘Helping people achieve their full potential; improving specialist disability employment services.’ The consultation document contains proposals to reform disability employment services that help disabled people who have complex issues to find, retain and progress in work. These include the Job Introduction Scheme, Work Preparation, WORKSTEP, Access to Work and the role of disability employment advisers in Jobcentre Plus.

Anne McGuire, Minister for Disabled People said:
"The aim of this move is to provide a better financial incentive for providers to progress customers into unsupported, independent work when they are able and ready to.We do of course recognise that there are many people who will need the long term support that WORKSTEP can provide, possibly for the whole of their working lives, and we will continue to ensure that they receive this support for as long as they need it. There is no change in the number of places currently filled by WORKSTEP participants. But we are determined to help more disabled people fulfil their true potential in work."